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Original poster

New Year (almost!) New Mumsnet Runners Thread. Come on in........

522 replies

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 28/12/2007 11:19

Old thread....

Useful links

Runner's World

Race for Life

Map my Run

What's your aim for 2008?

Mine is to enjoy running for the whole of 10k rather than just the middle 20 minutes - and it would be great to do the distance in under an hour but I'm not overly hopeful in that respect

OP posts:
alarkaspree · 10/03/2008 13:33

Hello everyone. May I join you please? I am training for a sprint triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) in June but at the moment I'm focussing on swimming and running training, hoping that the bike will fit in sometime later in the year.

I'm trying to run 3 times a week and swim 2-3 times a week. However most of my running is on the treadmill during the day, and I only manage to fit in a 30 minute run, plus stretching and shower, into the hour ds is at the creche.

So my plan is to do 2 30-minute runs on either hill or fartlek programmes on the treadmill, and a longer run building up to 10k at the weekend.

Is anyone else training for or considering a triathlon?

Theresa · 10/03/2008 17:32

Need some help/advice folks. havent posted on here for ages but have been reading along. I'm 44 and started running for 1st time ever in january. I'm doing a 10K on Easter Sunday, another in June and have the chance of a great north run place in october. I have been trying to run every other day and usually manage it. Once a week I run 6 1/2 miles home from work, other runs tend to be 4 - 5 miles. last week decided to increase things a bit and did 3 miles, 7.75 miles & 6.5 miles. I bought some new shoes in january they are adidas running shoes, cant remember what sort, they were about £55 reduced to £40 in sale and so far have been ok, but havent really wanted to admit that my legs are hurting a bit on a fairly regular basis, its worse the day after a run, then not so bad the day after that. have been doing stretches after run. Tonight when i started my run home i felt like a cripple for the first couple of minutes then it eases off and gets better as i run. i run mainly on pavements. Some people think every other day is too much but i feel i will lose fitness if i dont keep it up. Didnt manage much over half term and first run once they were back at school was really bad! Do you think i need new shoes? sorry to waffle on, i think the pain is in my knees but cant be sure anyone had any simular problems? any thoughts appreciated thanks

Theresa · 11/03/2008 17:03

BUMP?

hatwoman · 11/03/2008 22:29

hi Theresa. I'm no expert and you might get a better response on runners world. fwiw (not much!) my initial thoughts are - first that you're doing really well. I've never managed every other day, and it sounds like you;re doing sensible distances - so it shouldn;t really be hurting. stiff sometimes, heavy, but not what I'd really call hurting. £55 does sound a bit on the cheap side - so it's possible the shoes might be at fault. if you are light and don't over-pronate you can, I am told, get away with cheaper ones (and £55 is on the cheap side). but if you do over pronate you need the extra support you get in a more expensive shoe. over pronating is basically where the arch of your foot falls a bit as you run and effects your gait and the distribution of your weight. If you go to a running shop they will look at you on a treadmill, and also look at the wear on your old trainers, in order to see whether you over pronate and what's the best shoe for you. the problem for you is that you've just bought a new pair - if you go to a running shop (note, running shop not sports shop) and smile sweetly and explain, they might offer you a genuine opinion on whether the shoes are the problem or not. The man who served me in one I went to recently was genuinely into running himself and we chatted lots and he told me I didn;t need expensive ones - you might find one similar - worth a try perhaps?

hatwoman · 11/03/2008 22:30

didn't mean to call your trainers cheap twice

Original poster
Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 12/03/2008 08:01

Theresa - you sound like you're doing fab. You're doing really well to run every other day and to be running over 7 miles for your long run after only a couple of months. I think your body is still adjusting and hmmm how can I say this?... you're not a youngster to be just starting out, so it may take a while to get used to being put through it's paces. I'm 44 too and finding it more difficult to recover from longer runs (and long for me is 10k)

You could try some knee stabilising exercises. And I agree about checking your shoes.

OP posts:
Theresa · 12/03/2008 10:00

Thank you, not at all offended by being called old and in possession of cheap trainers! I am the original 'tight wad' and appreciate your comments on finding a running shop rather than a sports shop. There was a 'fitness & wellbeing' exhibition at work yesterday and there was a physio there so i had a word with him and his comments were along the lines of my body still getting used to the excercise and that the fact that it improved as i ran was a good sign. We live near Newcastle so will have to check out whether there is a running shop in the area (there are hundreds of sports shops with a bewildering array of very expensive trainers, but they all seem to be staffed by people barely out of their teens!)

CurrantBun · 12/03/2008 12:30

Theresa, I'd echo Hatwoman's advice and get your running shoes checked out. The kind of support they give and the way your feet move when you run might just mean they're the wrong shoe for you. It could, of course, also be a case of your body getting used to the extra work you're asking it to do, but a day off between runs should be more than enough recovery time with the distances you're currently running.

I'm an experienced runner with 5 years and 3 marathons under my belt, so hopefully I can pass on a little of what I've learned. I don't always practice what I preach, but taking the time to stretch properly after a run can make a huge difference to those aches and pains. Don't stretch beforehand though as you won't be properly warmed up. Ease into your run for the first mile or so before you start to increase speed - again, going hell for leather from the start makes you susceptible to injury if you're not properly warmed up. Make sure you replace your running shoes at least every 500 miles - they may not look worn out, but the midsole will certainly have taken a battering.

Now, why don't I follow any of my own advice?? Did 9 hilly and windy miles on Saturday morning in an hour and 12 minutes - went out too fast and although I managed to hang on at the end, the last couple of miles were not that comfortable! Ran 5 last night and nearly got blown away and it looks as though I'll be in for more of the same tonight!

dirtygertiefromnumber30 · 12/03/2008 12:45

Hi all! Havent posted here for ages but am back into running after a lapse of a few months. Im currently running 3 miles 3/4 times a week but am going to start increasing the mileage now with a view to completing my next 10k under 1hour! (pb 1hr 8mins atm)

Then i really want to do the cardiff half marathon in october. Oooh, THEN, Ive always wanted to do the NY marathon (has anyone here done it?)

Very fired up and motivated atm - wonder how long it will last!

Theresa · 12/03/2008 20:49

Thanks currantbun, am very impressed at your efforts! Love your name gertie, racking my brains trying to think who used to talk about her, am thinking Larry Grayson, but am not convinced?

Pidge · 14/03/2008 16:42

theresa - hope you get your shoes/knees sorted.

And welcome back gertie!

My resolution for the last few weeks has been try to get back to running twice a week, rather than once. But I can already see it's not going to happen this weekend, I've got a slight throat infection and that's just the perfect excuse to take life easy! Still, I've kept up my 35-40 minute bike ride each way on my commute to work 3 days a week, so that must keep my fitness ticking over.

hatwoman · 14/03/2008 19:06

hello again everyone. just popped into update my wildlife reports: a kingfisher today! I've only ever seen one once before. It flew down from the bank to the river so fast. totally stunning colour. made my day.

I'm all done now for Fleet half on Sunday. still not sure what time to aim for. 2 hours would be nice but I think it's too optimistic. I'll have to do some sums and look at my pace and have a think.

pinkspottywellies · 15/03/2008 20:46

Hi Runners! I've been on the beginners running thread for 10 weeks and have just managed 5k for the first time I just wondered what kind of time I should be aiming for. It took me about 34 mins today.

Original poster
Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 15/03/2008 20:55

Hello psw - glad you found us. I did my first 5k race in a little under 30 mins. I'd not really timed my regular runs. I generally find my 'race' time is faster than my run time (unless the start is particularly congested). I struggle to do 5k in less than 30mins these days though!

OP posts:
pinkspottywellies · 15/03/2008 21:26

Thanks Saggar. I guess my time was quite respectable for a start then! I was doing some faster intervals randomly between lampposts so next time I'll try and do more. I wonder if I have to leave the Couch to 5k thread now and graduate to the 'real' runners thread!!

dirtygertiefromnumber30 · 16/03/2008 12:16

hi all! entered cardiff half marathon today! eeek! Its in october though so have plenty of training time. dh laughing and telling horror stories of 'runners trot' etc. hmmm.

welcome PSW and congrats on the 5k. I usually run 5k in about 30mins so i think youve done really well. (not that you should set your standard by me of course!)

theresa - not sure about larry grayson, but my nan used to call me this when i was younger! Just googled it though and apparently it was a favourite saying of Basil Brush!

misdee · 16/03/2008 12:20

Hello, I am from the beginners runners thread. have been running sicne the start of january. but just found out i expecting a baby in nov. just wondering if i can carry on running really sagger said a few of you ladies have ran when pregnant. I see the GP in about 3 weeks, and wont see midwife till may.

dinny · 16/03/2008 12:38

can I ask, what incline should you have on a treadmill to mimic running outside? find it hard to run outside in terms of timing/safety/lateness at night etc

thanks, Dinny

dinny · 16/03/2008 12:39

MISDEE! WOW!!!!! Congratulations! That is fab news, Peter must be soooo chuffed with himself!!!!!

hatwoman · 16/03/2008 15:56

yes congrats Misdee! lovely news.

I'm just back from Fleet. Blimey it was a slog. I kept thinking why am I doing this? quite pleased with my time though. haven;t got an official one yet, nor an accurate one from my own timing, because I forgot to set it going - the start was a bit chaotic and we were only just there in time. So I fumbled with my stop watch just after the start. but I think I did about 2hr 3 mins. no interesting wildlife though. I don't think the gorilla counts.

DebitheScot · 16/03/2008 16:05

I just popped in to see if any of you had done the Fleet half today and see how you found it. I go to the church on Elvetham Heath and then was 'forced' to go to the pub there afterwards as we couldn't get home coz of the roads being closed. It didn't look like much fun, I think its known to be a hard one anyway isn't it? And the weather was pretty yuck.

None of you probably remember me as I've not been running for ages so haven't been on here. Misdee there's no reason why you can't keep running as long as you are fairly healthy and don't push things too hard. I kept running for about the 1st 10 weeks then because of being busy (and a bit lazy) didn't go for a couple of weeks and then got a horrid cold that is still sitting on my chest a bit so I now haven't been for about 6 weeks and probably won't really do much more as I think I'd find it hard to get back into it now.

hatwoman · 16/03/2008 16:19

sorry to have forced you into the pub DebiTheScot . The weather wasn't too bad tbh, mild drizzle is quite nice to run in. didn;t like the wind though.

DebitheScot · 16/03/2008 18:27

that's ok, I'll forgive you!
You're lucky the race didn't start earlier as the rain was worse earlier in the morning.

bramblebooks · 16/03/2008 18:33

Grabbing on to the back of pink spotty wellies' running wellies! Hi gang, I wonder if I might join you too? I've been on the 5k thread, getting back up to distance. I trained for a 5k last year, which was a huge achievement for me as a bit of a non-sporty lass. This year's goal is a 10k in June for diabetes research.

Pidge · 16/03/2008 19:51

misdee - Wow - what wonderful news. Many many congrats to you and Peter and the girls!

As for running - come and join me in the pregnant runners camp! Though I'm not a shining example of devotion to duty, I've been down to one 4-5 mile run per week due to feeling too sick in the evenings which is when I usually run. Anyway, 12 weeks now, and gradually feeling better so I keep promising myself to try to squeeze in another gentle outing per week. Other than the feeling sick, the running has been fine. Just take it nice and slow and steady. "Listen to your body" as many fine people here instructed me when I asked the same question 2 months back!